A Holiday Tale About Milk

Last Friday; was an extremely busy day at the office – finishing up a very busy work week. By 9:30 am – It had Become a “grind day” – that day you grind to get everything done for everybody else but acclomplish nothing you need to do for your self.. At 10:15 my Customs Broker called to let me know US Customs had cleared my coffee shipment in a day instead of the normal three days – appartently they needed the room for all the toys and merchandise coming in from China. She suggested I needed to pick it up without fail. So after striking out and all the U- haul stores I called my friend Mike to see if I could use one of his vans. Mike, the Saint he is, runs Divine Resources, a ministry that feeds dozens of shelters around metro Atlanta – everyday for free. He of course replied I am going downtown anyway so yes I can certainly help pick up your coffe.

Shortly he picked me up in his extended Econoline “Cheech and Chong” van – overly stuffed with food. Mike replied – “ Can You Believe Trader Joes gave me 200 gallons of Milk?” I replied “ Mike what are we going to do with 200 gallons of milk?” Where are we going to take 3 tons of food”. I was wishing I hadn’t told the office I would be back by 200. We stopped at “ My Sisiters Place – an outreach program for homeless moms and children in downtown Atlanta, where Mike assured me they would take all the food to feed their 85 families. Unfortunately after we unloaded 1/3 of the van we had filled up all their storage. Now what I asked Mike – we still got 150 gallons of milk and 2/3 of a van. The director there suggested we go around the corner to their “twin shelter”- the shelter for homeless men, which we didn’t know about and she says is often forgotten.

So we pulled up to “ My Brother’ House” and the Director actually thought we were pulling his leg about all the food until he looked in our van. I will never forget the joy in his eyes when he say all that food and milk. We haven’t had any milk here in months – they are going to love you guys. Unfortunately we don’t have a loading dock so you will have to tote the food down the hall; down the stairs, through the dining hall and back to the kitchen. But we can take it all. This is truly amazing.”

So several volunteers and I started off by carrying the milk to the kitchen. All the house guests were gathered in the dining hall sitting, reading and talking. When they saw us and the milk – we got a standing ovation and more hugs than I can count. Those hugs of joy were overwhelming – all for a simple glass of milk. Needless to say I didn’t get home with my coffee until way after 900 pm; but it no longer mattered.

This Holiday season – please take the time to help and share with a complete stranger. I’m telling you just can’t beat those hugs of sheer joy.